Bypass-RTA

Abstract

An communication module for providing data communication between an industrial network and an electric device, said communication module is disclosed. The communication module comprises a network interface for connecting the communication module to the industrial network, the network interface being arranged to receive first data from the industrial network, a data processing unit connected to the network interface and arranged to receive second data, comprising at least a portion of said first data, from the network interface, the data processing unit being arranged to process said second data, a device interface for connecting the communication module to the electric device, the device interface being connected to the data processing unit and arranged to receive third data, comprising at least a portion of said second data, from the processing unit, wherein the communication module comprises communication circuitry interconnecting the network interface and the device interface, the communication circuitry being arranged to transmit fourth data comprising at least a portion of said first data different from said second data from the network interface to the device interface.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A communication module for providing data communication between an industrial network and an electric device, said communication module comprising:
 a network interface for connecting the communication module to the industrial network, the network interface being arranged to receive first data from the industrial network, 
 a data processing unit connected to the network interface and arranged to receive second data, comprising at least a portion of said first data, from the network interface, the data processing unit being arranged to process said second data, 
 a device interface for connecting the communication module to the electric device, the device interface being connected to the data processing unit and arranged to receive third data, comprising at least a portion of said second data, from the processing unit, 
 wherein the communication module comprises communication circuitry interconnecting the network interface and the device interface, the communication circuitry being arranged to transmit fourth data comprising at least a portion of said first data different from said second data from the network interface to the device interface. 
 
     
     
       2. The communication module according to  claim 1  , wherein the device interface is arranged to receive data from the electric device and send at least a portion of the received data to the processing unit, the data processing unit is arranged to process said data received from the device interface and send at least a portion of said processed data to the network interface, the network interface is arranged to send at least a portion of said processed data onto the industrial network, the communication circuitry is arranged to send at least a portion of the data received in the device interface to the network interface, said data sent by the communication circuitry being different from said data transferred to the processing unit. 
     
     
       3. The communication module according to  claim 1 , wherein the network interface is arranged to determine if the data received from the industrial network relates to real time data and send such real time data to the device interface via the communication circuitry. 
     
     
       4. The communication module according to  claim 1 , wherein the communication circuitry is part of network interface. 
     
     
       5. The communication module according to  claim 1 , wherein the network interface, the communication circuitry, the device interface, and a triple buffer operably connected between the device interface and the communication circuitry are implemented in an FPGA. 
     
     
       6. The communication module according to  claim 1 , further comprising a triple buffer connected between the device interface and the communication circuitry. 
     
     
       7. The communication module according to  claim 1 , further comprising communication circuitry connected between the network interface and the device interface for providing a synchronization signal from the network interface to the device interface. 
     
     
       8. The communication module according to  claim 1 , wherein the network interface is arranged to receive the first data in one or more data frames, such as Ethernet data frames, CAN data frames or ControlNet data frames. 
     
     
       9. A communication module comprising:
 a first field programmable gate array (FPGA) unit configured to connect the communication module to an industrial network, wherein the first FPGA unit is configured to receive first data from the industrial network; 
 a processor operably connected to the first FPGA unit, wherein the processor is configured to:
 receive second data from the first portion of the FPGA, the second data comprising at least a portion of the first data, and 
 process said second data; 
 
 a second FPGA unit configured to connect to the communication module to an electric device, the second FPGA unit being operably connected to the processor and configured to receive third data from the processing unit, the third data comprising at least a portion of said second data; and 
 a third FPGA unit configured to interconnect the first FPGA unit and the second FPGA unit, the third FPGA unit being configured to transmit fourth data comprising at least a portion of said first data that is different from said second data from the first FPGA unit to the second FPGA unit. 
 
     
     
       10. The communication module according to  claim 9 , wherein the second FPGA unit is arranged to receive data from the electric device and send at least a portion of the received data to the processor, the processor is arranged to process said data received from the second FPGA unit and send at least a portion of said processed data to the first FPGA unit, the first FPGA unit is arranged to send at least a portion of said processed data onto the industrial network, the third FPGA unit is arranged to send at least a portion of the data received in the second FPGA unit to the first FPGA unit, said data sent by the third FPGA unit being different from said data transferred to the processing unit. 
     
     
       11. The communication module according to  claim 9 , wherein the first FPGA unit is arranged to determine if the data received from the industrial network relates to real time data and send such real time data to the second FPGA unit via the third FPGA unit. 
     
     
       12. The communication module according to  claim 9 , wherein the third FPGA unit is part of the first FPGA unit. 
     
     
       13. The communication module according to  claim 9 , wherein the first FPGA unit, the second FPGA unit, and the third FPGA unit are each implemented in the same FPGA. 
     
     
       14. The communication module according to  claim 9 , further comprising a fourth FPGA unit configured as a triple buffer to connect between the second and third FPGA units. 
     
     
       15. The communication module according to  claim 9 , further comprising the third FPGA unit is configured to provide a synchronization signal from the first FPGA unit to the second FPGA unit. 
     
     
       16. The communication module according to  claim 9 , wherein first FPGA unit is arranged to receive the first data in one or more data frames. 
     
     
       17. The communication module according to  claim 16 , wherein the one or more data frames comprise one or more of Ethernet data frames, CAN data frames, or ControlNet data frames.